MVN: Most Valuable Network

Well as some of you may have heard there are some rumors going around the Flyers right now concerning Panthers defensemen, and end of the season UFA, Jay Bouwmeester. At the Flyers media holiday party yesterday the talk was of a trade involving Joffrey Lupul and Randy Jones for Jay-Bo. When Homer was asked about this, and the possibility of a 4 pm press conference, he said "Its news to me". To me this alleged trade is a horrible idea! As if we aren't having enough problems with our blue line this year figuring out what to do when Jones and Parent are healthy, now we are going to throw Jay-Bo into the mix?! His salery is 4.875 mil, and he is an UFA at the end of the season, that is not a risk I think the flyers should be willing to take. If this was to happen I would see our top four on the blue line as Timonen, Coburn, Bouwmiester, and Carle. Not a bad set of lines, but would it really be worth giving up someone like Randy Jones for a player who may just cause headaches by the end of the season? I know Jay-Bo puts up numbers (37 points last season) but is it really worth it?

Another thing I'm hearing is that Florida wants an impact player, a prospect, and a 1st round pick in exchange for him. This brings up the possibility of Switching out Randy Jones and placing Ryan Parent in his place in the deal, with a 1st round pick. The ONLY way I would see this as beneficial is if that was a conditional first round pick depending on if Jay-Bo would resign with the Flyers. I'm sorry, as much as I would like Boumeester I would not give up our first round pick and a player like Parent for him, when he is known to be almost a cancer in the dressing room!

Anyway, take that for what its worth. Now onto tonights game, I'll give you people who didn't read the headline and all of you who have been out of the loop one guess who were playing....thats right the Carolina Hurricanes! Now I know we are 2-0-1 in the series so far this year against the Canes but I'm still worried going into this game tonight, especially with the last 5 out of 6 games being one goal games and three of the last four being OT games!

I didn't get any word on what the lines are looking like for tonight but I did hear that there is a good chance that Nitty will get the start for the Flyers (after only giving up one goal in each of his meetings with the Canes this year) and Michael Leighton in crease for the Canes (due to Cam Ward being on IR).

Look for Jeff Carter to continue his amazing scoring run (four goals in the last four games) but don't forget about our old friend Joni Pitkanen on the Carolina Blue Line. Joni has played great against the flyers this year and with the great possibility of an OT game (like I said three of the last four) you know how he loves four on four hockey.

Finally, no good news concerning Matt Carle (who has been skating with the team) as he has been in visible pain and can't even pass the puck without a shooting pain. No word on a return date yet for him.

Have a great day and go Flyers!